Sparks Pirate Candidate Concedes in Tight Ward 2 Race, and Endorses Challenger Over Incumbent

Ward 2 Sparks candidate and United States Pirate Party member Hunter Rand has conceded in a tight three way race with razor thin margins, while endorsing Jamie O’Connell for the November runoff against incumbent Dian VanderWell.

O’Connell currently has 726 votes, compared to 707 for VanderWell and 662 for Rand.

"First, I want to acknowledge what an extraordinary honor it has been to participate in our democratic process during the 250th anniversary of the founding of these United States," Rand wrote in a statement.

"On June 6th, I was in Boston to speak at the U.S. Pirate National Convention. While there, I had the opportunity to walk the Freedom Trail and stand in places I had only ever read about in textbooks. I stood in the shadows of Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and so many others who helped shape our nation. Standing atop Breed's Hill, where George Washington commanded some of America's earliest patriots put into perspective just how fortunate we are.

We often take it for granted, but the ability to participate in government, to criticize our leaders, to parody them, to challenge them, and to air our grievances without fear is a remarkable privilege. It is one of the great gifts of American democracy, and it is something worth protecting.

This campaign was, in many ways, a statement about what government should be - it was my protest. It was built on the belief that elected officials should put people first. Too often, government at every level can become distracted by institutions, special interests, political maneuvering, personal ambition, and temptation. But representative government exists for one reason: to represent the people.

Not corporations. Not unions. Not special interests. Not industry groups. Not lobbyists. Not political insiders.

The people. You and I: the neighbors who live, work, raise families, and build communities together.

I ran as a member of the U.S. Pirate Party, a political party I have proudly belonged to throughout my adult life. The first plank of the Pirate Party platform is simple: People First. That principle has guided this campaign from the beginning, and it will continue to guide me long after it ends.

Today, I concede the election for Sparks City Council, Ward 2, and I am proud to enthusiastically endorse Jamie O'Connell, for this office.

Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to get to know Jamie. I believe she is intelligent, thoughtful, and deeply committed to serving this community....

Normally, I would conclude a statement like this with contact information and an invitation for media interviews and comment. Instead, as I return to my career, my family, and life as a private citizen, I am pleased to say that I will not be available for interviews or comment. Don’t give up the ship," he concluded.

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